Contact fixture



Dec. 31, 1946. L.D. HANSEN ETAL 1 CONTACT FIXTURE Filed Dec. 9, 194a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTORS' Aisifl EMAMJR Z By H.N.$ OK I I ERMM A 7' TOPNE V Dec. 31, 1946.

L. D. HA ET CONTACT FIX Filed Dec. 9, 1943 FIG. 4

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L.D.HANSEN .F.'.HARRIS w I/ENTOPS' A. s. HsaEMAM H.N.SNO0K r g3 h M ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE CONTACT FIXTURE Lloyd D. Hansen, Fanwood, Fred E. Harris, Nutley, Andrew S. Hegeman, Jr., Glen Ridge, and Harry N. Snook, Maywood, N. J assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 9, 1943, Serial No, 513,620

3 Claims.

I This invention relates to contact fixtures, and

more particularly to fixtures adapted for temporary connection with electrical terminals.

In th manufacture of communications equipment it is desirable to test the electrical circuits necessary to form such electrical connections and the efliciency of the means used in providing satisfactory electrical connections.

An object of the invention is to provide a contact fixture which is simple in structure, easily operable, and highly efiicient in forming electrical connections with terminals.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a contact fixture having a body supporting a plurality of spaced electrical elements for forming electrical connections with terminals of a terminal strip, gripping members for gripping the terminal strip, and means to cause actuation of the gripping members to move them into and out of engagement with the terminal strip.

v Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in'conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the contact fixture shown connected with the terminal strip;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, withthe contact fixture in open position, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment the contact fixture is designed for use in combination with a terminal strip IQ mounted through the aid of a bracket to a panel l2,'as shown at M. The terminal strip It supports a plurality of terminals l5 of the contours shown, and in this illustration electrical conductors l6, which are parts of the electrical circuits to be tested through the aid of the contact fixture, are

electrically connected to their respective terminals. These connections of the conductors I3 with their terminals I5 are shown at the upper ends of the terminals. In the present illustration the lower ends of theterminals are free of conductors, but it should be understood that if 2 desired the contact fixture could function with or without conductors secured to the lower ends of the terminals.

Referring now to the contact fixture, a body l8 of a suitable insulating material has a plurality of spaced apertures l9 therein (Fig. 4) for receiving contacts indicated generally at 20. For the specific structure of the contacts, attention is directed. to Fig. 4 and a description of the contact shown therein will apply to the other contacts. In this figure the contact includes a hollow member 2! of a suitable conductiv material apertured at its lower end to receive a quantity of solder 22, in which the bare end of an insulated conductor 23 is embedded, to form electrical connection between the conductor and the member 2|. In the hollow portion of the member 21, a spring 24 is disposed for normally urging a plunger portion 25 of a terminal engaging member 26 upwardly. The outer end of the member 2! is turned inwardly, as at 21, to limit the upward movement of the member 26.

A cup-shaped portion 28 is formed integral with the member 26 to receive the end of its respective terminal IS. The contacts 20 are disposed in the body. [8 at positions for registration with their 1 respective terminals I5.

The ends of the body l8 are notched, as at 36, to receive clamping elements 3| and 32. These elements are pivotally connected, as at 33, to the body I8 and have inwardly projecting hookportions 34 at their upper ends. Near the lower ends of the clamping elements 31 and 32, apertures 36 and 31 are formed therein to receive an actuating rod 38. The adjacent end of the actuating rod 38 is pivotally connected to the clamping element 32 in its aperture 31 by a pin 39. The opposite end of the actuating rod projects through the aperture 36 of the clamping element 3| and is pivotally connected, at 40, to legs 4| of a yoke portion 42 of a cam lever 43. The cam lever is provided with a handle 44 by the aid of. which it may be actuated, that is, moved about its pivot 40. The lower ends of the legs 4| have like rounded end portions 46 curving into diagonal portions 41, which have their particular purpose hereinafter described.

A compression spring 48 is disposed concentric with the actuating rod 38 and has its ends abutting the inner surfaces of the clamping elements 3| and 32, to apply sufilcient force to the elements to urge them into clamping engagement with the terminal strip.

major portion of the structure previously described, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and has its upper edges fixed, as at to the body l8. Pairs of apertures 52 are provided in the housing 50 adjacent one end thereof, to receive ties 53 for holding groups of the conductors 23 away from the actuating rod and spring as well as the clamping elements, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Considering now the function of the contact fixture, let it be assumed that the fixture is in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the lever 43 lies in clos engagement with its adjacent clamping element 3| and the force present in the spring 48 is divided between the clamping elements 3| and 32 to cause their upper the elements like distances into open positions 'multiplicity of terminals through the aid of a like number of contacts individually embodying therein sufiicient force to assure the desired electrical connections, having their cup-shaped ends, including the hook portions 34, to firmly grip the contact strip l0 and hold the remaining structure of the fixture in place. When in this position the movable portions of the contacts 20 are depressed, causing the force created in their springs 24 to formpositive electrical connections between the cup-shapedportions of the contacts and their respective terminals l5. At this time circuits including the conductors l6, their terminals l5, the contacts 20, and their conductors 23 are completed between the apparatus including the terminal strip and the testing unit (not shown) connected electrically to the contact fixture.

The contact fixture may be readily removed from the terminal strip by the operator gripping the housing with one hand, and, with the other, moving the lever 43 from the closed position shown in Fig. 1 to the open position shown in V Fig. 3. During this movement of the lever, force is applied inwardly to both clamping elements 3| and 32, the force applied to the clamping element 3| being through the lever 43, while that applied to the clamping element 32 is through the actuating rod 38. During this movement of the lever the rounded portions of the ends 46 of the legs 4| will ride upon the adjacent surface of the clamping element 3| until the diagonal or fiat portions 41 are brought into engagement anism is thus locked in this position and the fixture may be removed from the contact strip as the upper ends of the clamping elements have been moved into spaced positions, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, this locked positionof the fixture permits movement thereof into engagement with another like contact strip, where a similar connection may be made, in movement of the contacts 2!] into engaging position with the terminals l5 of the terminal strip through the aid of the housing 50, serving as a handle portion at the center of the fixture and .at the position where pressure is needed to compress the movable portions of the contacts 20 as they are brought into engagement with their respective terminals so as to locate the upper portions of the clamping elements 3| and 32 above the contact strip ii]. When in this position the lever 43 need only .be moved out of itslocked position and the force present in the spring 48 will complete the actuation of the clamping elements 3| and 32 to move them into the clamping positions shown in Fig. 1. Attention is directed to the relationship of the elements 3| and 32 withthe housing 50. The latter serves to cause "equal positioning of the elements. that is, movement of ends to maintain mechanical as well as electrical connections with the terminals. Furthermore, the structure of the lever 43 serves to quickly actuate the clamping elements either to force them into open positions, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or to release them for movement by the spring 38 into closed position.

Although specific improvements of the inven tion have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A contact fixture for use in combination with an elongate terminal strip having a plurality of spaced terminals between its ends, the contact fixture comprising a body, contacts carried thereby and spaced for engagement with the terminals, clamping elements pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the opposing ends of the body, an actuating rod extending between adjacent ends of the elements and connected to one of the elements, a spring adapted to force the elements in directions about their pivots to move the other ends thereof into engagement with the. ends of the terminal strip to hold the contacts in engagement with the terminals thereof, and means connected to the other end of the rod to cooperate with the rod to actuate the elements.

2. A contact fixture for use in combination with an elongate terminal strip having a plurality of spaced terminals, the contact fixture comprising a body; spring pressed contacts disposed at spaced positions longitudinally of the body for engagement with the terminals, clamping elements, having hook-shaped ends and apertured ends, pivotally supported intermediate their ends at opposing ends of the body, an actuating rod disposed in the apertures of the elements and connected to one of the elements, means to force the hook-shaped ends of the elements into'closed positions in engagement with the terminal strip, and'means connected to the free end of the rod to move the elements into open positions.

3. A contact fixture for use in combination with "an elongate terminal strip having a plurality of spaced terminals, the contact fixture comprising a body, spring pressed contacts disposed at spaced positions longitudinally of the body for engage.- ment with the terminals, clamping elements, having hook-shaped ends and apertured ends, pivotally supported intermediate their ends at opposing ends of the body, an actuating rod disposed in the apertures of the. elements and connected to one of the elements, means to force LLOYD D. HANSEN.

FRED E. HARRIS.

ANDREW s. HEGEMAN, JR, 1 I HARRY N. sNooK, 1.. 

